Community Organizing
Where Patients Become Power-Builders
At Latinas Contra Cancer, we are dedicated to dismantling the inequities entrenched in our healthcare system and building a system that truly works for everyone. Through our Community Organizing program, we build the power of patients and their families to lead the charge for systemic change. Health justice is not possible without racial justice, economic equity, and the dismantling of all forms of oppression. By building the power of patients, we aim to create a world where healthcare is a fundamental human right for all.
Community Organizing at LCC:
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Mobilizes patients and caregivers to advocate for changes in healthcare policies.
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Provides leadership development, advocacy training, and resources to individuals from underrepresented communities.
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Leads grassroots campaigns, such as the “Rescue Our Medical Center” campaign, which successfully reversed the closure of trauma services at Regional Medical Center.
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Organizes events like the Latinas Patient Power: Rights to Heal Retreat, where Latina patients come together to enhance self-care, share advocacy tools, and strengthen their voices.
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Partners with local organizations and coalitions to amplify the voices of Latino patients in healthcare decision-making.
The Patient Organizing Committee
Organized by and for Latina Patients
The Patient Organizing Committee is the heart of our grassroots advocacy. Made up of Latina patients and caregivers who have completed our Defensoras training, the Committee leads with lived experience and political clarity.
Members meet regularly to build campaigns, develop strategies, and advance policy change — from advocating for longer medical visits for patients needing interpretation, to defending public healthcare programs like Medi-Cal.
At LCC, we don’t just believe in representation — we build it. The Committee is where that leadership is honored, resourced, and put into action.
The Patient Organizing Committee is open to Latina patients and caregivers who are directly impacted by healthcare inequities. To get involved, individuals must:
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Have participated in the Defensoras Health Care Advocate Co-Learning Space.
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Be committed to advocating for the rights of patients and driving change in the healthcare system.